Aryna Sabalenka defeated Zheng Qinwen to make it back-to-back titles at the Australian Open.
The second seed did not drop a set all fortnight, beating first-time major finalist Zheng 6-3 6-2 to become the first woman since fellow Belarusian Victoria Azarenka in 2013 to successfully defend the trophy.
Britain’s Alfie Hewett was unable to match Sabalenka, losing 6-2 6-4 to Tokito Oda in the men’s wheelchair final.
Picture of the day
Bravo @SabalenkaA Just amazing! Congratulations ? So fully deserved ❤️
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) January 27, 2024
Stat of the day
5 – Aryna Sabalenka is the 5th player this Century to secure the Women’s Singles title at the Australian Open without a single set dropped en route after Davenport in 2000, Sharapova in 2008, S. Williams in 2017 and Barty in 2022. Domination.#AusOpen | @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/ltADtnsyH2
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 27, 2024
Celebration of the day
Making history ??
Rei Sakamoto becomes the first Japanese player to win an @AustralianOpen boys’ singles title! #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/X8E9uAuR2l
— ITF (@ITFTennis) January 27, 2024
Diede rolls on
Another chapter written ✍️@DiedetheGreat breaks the record for most consecutive Grand Slam wheelchair singles titles!#WheelchairTennis | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/BFoCwOYSlD
— ITF (@ITFTennis) January 27, 2024
Who’s up next?
The final is set ?
Who will be the 2024 #AusOpen Champion? ?@AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/Vz04Fqy3cl
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 26, 2024
The tournament will crown a first time Australian Open champion in the men’s singles on Sunday night.
After stunning Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, 22-year-old fourth seed Jannik Sinner goes into his first grand slam decider as the favourite.
There he will take on third seed Daniil Medvedev, who has survived three five-set matches and will hope to make it third time lucky having finished as runner-up in 2021 and 2022.
